Winnipeg is going back to the Canada West post-season and the Canada West post-season might still come to Winnipeg.
The Wesmen women's volleyball team made quick work of the Brandon Bobcats Friday night at the Duckworth Centre in a 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-18) win on the penultimate night of the conference season, earning their fifth playoff berth of the past six seasons in the process.
Where they'll finish won't be known until after Saturday night supper.
Brooke Duncalfe had an immaculate match, recording 17 kills, a career-high six aces and seven digs as the Wesmenimproved to 7-12 and kept alive their hopes to host a play-in match when the conference playoffs begin next weekend.
While the Wesmen remain in the 10th and final playoff place, they still have an opportunity to move up to No. 8, the final hosting spot. A win in Saturday's Senior Night showdown, plus a Calgary (8-11) loss at Thompson Rivers opens the door for the Wesmen to play another match inside The Duck next weekend.
For the time being, the Wesmen just enjoyed rolling over the Bobcats, who fell to 3-16 and perhaps guaranteed themselves a spot at the bottom of the table when conference play wraps Saturday night.
Winnipeg wasn't spectacular, but it didn't need to be: The Wesmen barely trailed and had multiple lengthy runs that started with scoring nine of the first 11 points of the first set. They also strung together a 10-point run to open the second set with a 10-1 lead and, when the Bobcats got frisky in the third and built a 7-4 lead, Winnipeg countered with an 11-4 run that restored the order.
The Wesmen hit .196 for the night, but were .500 in the first set and held BU to .101 for the match.
Duncalfe was the only Wesmen in double-digit kills, but
Ella Werbiski and
Megan Kendziora both had 10 digs.
Brandon was led by Brynn Wildeboer's 11 kills and Brooklyn Pratt's 11 digs.